Israelis Leave 13,000 Palestinians Homeless

The Israelis claim that they are destroying the houses of terrorists: The UNO is complaining about the policy13,000 Palestinians have been left homeless after their homes were demolished by Israeli bulldozers, a policy which began at the beginning of the Intifada in September 2000.

The United Nations Relief and World Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) stated yesterday that the number of demolitions has been increasing in recent months, with the average monthly rate increasing from 30 to 74 homes. This policy has left 12,737 people homeless in Gaza and the West Bank.

The UNRWA tries to find funds to build shelters for those affected, many of whom are innocent women and children. The Israelis claim that they are destroying the houses of terrorists and that the message should be clear that all those engaging in terrorist activities will lose their homes.

However, the UNRWA has claimed that those who suffer most are not the guilty, but the innocent and that most demolitions are made at night, without warning. The geographical location of the demolitions is also suspicious: many are in areas bordering Israeli colonies or along the border with Egypt, where a security fence is being erected by Israel.